Wayne Ellington facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Wayne Ellington

Ellington with the Miami Heat in 2018
Miami Heat
Player development coach
Personal information
Born	(1987-11-29) November 29, 1987 (age 37) Wynnewood, Pennsylvania, U.S.
High school	Daniel Boone (Birdsboro, Pennsylvania) Episcopal Academy (Merion, Pennsylvania)
Listed height	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Listed weight	207 lb (94 kg)
Career information
College	North Carolina (2006–2009)
NBA Draft	2009 / Round: 1 / Pick: 28th overall
Selected by the Minnesota Timberwolves
Pro career	2009–2022
Coaching career	2023–present
League	NBA
Career history
As player:
2009–2012	Minnesota Timberwolves
2012–2013	Memphis Grizzlies
2013	Cleveland Cavaliers
2013–2014	Dallas Mavericks
2014–2015	Los Angeles Lakers
2015–2016	Brooklyn Nets
2016–2019	Miami Heat
2019	Detroit Pistons
2019–2020	New York Knicks
2020–2021	Detroit Pistons
2021–2022	Los Angeles Lakers
As coach:
2023–present	Miami Heat (player development)
Career highlights and awards
NCAA champion (2009) NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player (2009) Second-team All-ACC (2008) No. 22 honored by North Carolina Tar Heels First-team Parade All-American (2006) McDonald's All-American (2006)

Wayne Robert Ellington Jr. (born November 29, 1987) is an American basketball coach and former player. He is currently a player development coach for the Miami Heat in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Wayne was known for his amazing shooting skills. People even called him "The Man With The Golden Arm".

He played college basketball for the University of North Carolina from 2006 to 2009. After three years, he decided to enter the 2009 NBA draft. The Minnesota Timberwolves picked him as the 28th player overall.

High School Basketball Career

Wayne Ellington had a fantastic high school basketball career. He scored a total of 2,211 points. He played at two different schools: Daniel Boone High School and The Episcopal Academy.

In his last year at Episcopal Academy, he averaged 21.9 points per game. He also grabbed 8.3 rebounds and made 3.2 assists per game. He was very good at shooting three-pointers, making 39% of them. His team had an impressive record of 52 wins and only 7 losses in his junior and senior years. They also won the Inter-Academic League Conference title twice.

Experts like Rivals.com thought Ellington was a top player. In 2006, they ranked him as the best shooting guard in the country. He was also the 8th best player overall in the nation.

College Basketball Career

Ellington with the North Carolina Tar Heels in 2009

Ellington played in all 38 games for the North Carolina Tar Heels in his first year (2006–07). He averaged 11.7 points per game. He was even named to the 2007 ACC All-Tournament Team. His team, the ACC Champions, lost in the NCAA Tournament to Georgetown. He missed a three-pointer that could have won the game. Ellington also played for the U.S. national team at the 2007 Pan American Games.

In his second year, his scoring average went up. The Tar Heels started relying on him more in important moments. On January 6, 2008, he scored a career-high 36 points against Clemson. He even hit a game-winning three-pointer with less than a second left in overtime. However, his season ended with a tough loss to Kansas in the NCAA Tournament. He shot poorly from three-point range in that game. After this season, he thought about entering the 2008 NBA draft but decided to stay in college for another year.

As a junior, Ellington helped the Tar Heels win the National Championship. They beat the Michigan State Spartans 89–72. He was amazing in the Final Four games, making 7 out of 10 three-pointers. He was named to the All-Tournament Team and was the NCAA basketball tournament Most Outstanding Player. During his college career, he averaged 14.7 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game.

On April 23, 2009, Ellington announced he would leave college early. He decided to enter the NBA draft.

Professional Basketball Career

Minnesota Timberwolves (2009–2012)

Ellington as a member of the Minnesota Timberwolves

The Minnesota Timberwolves picked Ellington 28th overall in the 2009 NBA draft. In his first year, he averaged 6.6 points and 2.1 rebounds per game. He usually came off the bench as a substitute player.

Memphis Grizzlies (2012–2013)

On July 24, 2012, Ellington was traded to the Memphis Grizzlies. He was traded for another player, Dante Cunningham.

He had some great games with the Grizzlies. On November 11, 2012, he scored a career-high 25 points. He made 7 three-pointers in a win against the Miami Heat. Later, on January 7, 2013, he set a new career high with 26 points against the Sacramento Kings.

Cleveland Cavaliers (2013)

On January 22, 2013, Ellington was traded again. He went to the Cleveland Cavaliers as part of a trade.

Dallas Mavericks (2013–2014)

On July 26, 2013, Ellington signed a contract with the Dallas Mavericks.

Los Angeles Lakers (2014–2015)

Ellington was traded multiple times in 2014. First, he went to the New York Knicks on June 25, 2014. Then, on August 6, 2014, he was traded to the Sacramento Kings. The Kings later decided to release him on September 3, 2014.

On September 22, 2014, Ellington signed with the Los Angeles Lakers. He took a break from the team on November 11, 2014, due to a personal family matter. He returned to play on November 21, 2014. On January 27, 2015, he scored a career-high 28 points in a game against the Washington Wizards. His season ended early on April 2, 2015, because of a shoulder injury. He played in 65 games that season.

Brooklyn Nets (2015–2016)

On July 10, 2015, Ellington signed with the Brooklyn Nets. On December 28, 2015, he scored a season-high 26 points. He also tied his career high by making seven three-pointers in a win against the Miami Heat. Ellington received the 2015–16 J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award. This award is given to a player who shows great community service.

Miami Heat (2016–2019)

On July 10, 2016, Ellington signed with the Miami Heat. He played his first game for the Heat on November 28, 2016. He had missed the first 16 games due to a bruised thigh.

On December 22, 2017, Ellington tied his career high with 28 points. He also made a career-high eight three-pointers in a win against the Dallas Mavericks. On March 21, 2018, he hit his 200th three-pointer of the season. This made him only the third Heat player to achieve this. In the last game of the regular season on April 11, 2018, Ellington scored a career-high 32 points. He also set a new record for the most three-pointers in a single season for the Heat, with 227.

Ellington re-signed with the Heat on July 13, 2018. However, on February 6, 2019, he was traded to the Phoenix Suns. The Suns then released him the very next day.

Detroit Pistons (2019)

On February 9, 2019, Ellington signed with the Detroit Pistons.

New York Knicks (2019–2020)

On July 9, 2019, Ellington signed with the New York Knicks. He played his first game for them on October 23, 2019. On February 8, 2020, he scored a season-high 17 points in a win against the Detroit Pistons.

The Knicks released Ellington on November 19, 2020.

Return to the Pistons (2020–2021)

On December 2, 2020, Ellington signed with the Pistons again. On March 3, 2021, he scored a season-high 25 points in a win against the Toronto Raptors.

Return to the Lakers (2021–2022)

On August 6, 2021, Ellington signed with the Los Angeles Lakers for a second time. On April 10, 2022, he scored a season-high 18 points in an overtime win against the Denver Nuggets.

Coaching Career

After his playing career, Wayne Ellington became a coach. On September 29, 2023, the Miami Heat hired him. He now works as a player development coach for the team.

Career Statistics

NBA

Regular season

Playoffs

College

See also

In Spanish: Wayne Ellington para niños

• 2006 high school boys basketball All-Americans